Cord insertion device



Sept. 26, 1933. G, H. LEEF 1,928,455

CORD INSERTION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1952 Sept. 26, 1933. G. H. LEEF 1,928,455

CORD INSERTION DEVICE Filed April 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1/. Fig/Z.

,CORD INSERTION DEVICE George H. Leef, Minneapolis, Minn. Application April 15, 1932. Serial No. 605,501

5 Claims. (01. 223-38) My invention relates to devices for inserting strips of flexible material through tubular pockets and more particularly, to devices for inserting strips of elastic material through tubular pockets formed of flexible material.

Heretofore, strips of flexible or elastic material have been inserted in tubular pockets by means of rods or bodkins, such methods requiring considerable time and labor and often resulting o in the strips becoming twisted when being inserted, or in the material forming the tubular pockets becoming soiled.

It is a specific object of my invention to provide a device for inserting elastic'bands in the tubular pockets of steering wheel covers such as the cover described in my co-pending application Serial Number '572,285, filed October 13, 1931, but'it will be understood that my invention is well suited for inserting cords or bands of elastic or flexible nature in the tubularpockets of many articles including tire covers, articles of clothing, cloth bags, and other articles.

An object of my invention, is to provide a device of the class described whereby strips of flexible orelastic material can be quickly and conveniently inserted in tubular pockets.

Another object is to provide a device of the class describedwhereby strips can be inserted with a minimum amount of handling of both the class described wherein the strips and the tubular pockets are held thereby in a suitable position to permit convenient joining of 'the'two ends of each strip.

A still further object is to provide a device of the class described which is adaptable for simultaneous insertion of strips in any number of tubular pockets. l

These and other objectsv and advantages of 'the'present invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same orsimilar parts throughout the various views, and, in which;

Fig; l is a view of my steering wheel cover (described in my'c'opending application Serial Number 572,285, filed October 31, 1931) as applied to the steeringwheel of a motor vehicle;

Fig.2 is a cross sectional view of a portion of my steering wheel cover taken alongthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows Fig. 3 is a side view of a portion of my steering wheel cover showing the openings in the tubular 160 pocketthereof and partially broken away to show a section of the tubular pockets;

Fig. 4 is aside view of the ends of the elastic strip used in mysteering wheel cover and the ring and spring snap used to join the ends of the T strip;

Fig. 5 is a side view of my present invention with two elastic bands and asteering wheel cover in place thereon;

Fig. 6 is a top view of my present invention;

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section of my invention with two elastic bands and a steering wheel cover thereon taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 5, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section of my 275 invention taken along the line 88 of Fig. 5, as indicated by the arrows;

r Fig. 9 is a horizontal view of the end of one of the projecting arms of my invention with the spring snap on one end of a strip attached thereto, partially broken away to show the method of attachment;

Fig. 10 is a side view of the end of one of the projecting arms showing the spring snap on one end of a strip attached thereto; T35

Fig. 11 is a horizontal view of one of the projecting arms of my'invention with the ring on one end of a strip attached thereto; and A,

Fig. 12 is a side view of one of the projecting arms of my invention with the ring on one end of a strip attached thereto. 7

Referring to the drawings, the steering wheel cover, in connection with whichmy invention is described, is formed of an endless-strip13 of cloth or other suitableflexible material, the edges of which are folded inwardly and sewed or otherwise secured to the unfolded portion of the strip 13 to form tubular pockets 14. At diametrically opposite points the pockets are provided with openings 15. A'strip 16, of elastic material such 1 as rubber, on one end of which is secured a ring 17, and on the other end of which is secured a spring snap 18, is inserted through one of the openings 15 of each of the tubular pockets l4 and is threaded through said tubular pocket. The two ends-of the strip 16 are connected by engaging the ring 17 with the spring snap 18. The cover isapplied to a steering wheel 19 as shown I in Fig. '1 and Fig. 2. s I

A-rectangular base 20 is formed of plate steel or other suitable material and is provided, adjacent each corner thereof, with an aperture through which a screw may be inserted for the purpose of attaching the base to a wall or other suitable surface.

A piece of small channel iron is formed into a pair of spaced parallel arms 21 of equal length connected together at their inner ends by a short transverse portion:2la of the channel iron, the channel iron being so disposed that the flange of each arm extend toward the other arm of the pair. The transverse portion 21a is secured, in a horizontally disposed position, to the upper portion of the outer surface of the base 20 to support the arms 21 in horizontal, outwardly extending relation to the base. A second pair of arms 22, somewhat shorter than the arms 21 but otherwise identical thereto, are' similarly supported by a transverse portion 220. attached to the lower portion of the base 20 in a position parallel to and below the-arms 21. -One arm of each-pair is rounded at the outer end thereofand formed to permit engagementtherewith by aspring snap 18 as shown inFig. 9 and Fig. 10. The remainingarm of each pair is formed at the outer end thereof into a-blunt point which is adapted for being encircledby a ring .17 as shown in Fig. 11 and'Fig. 12. The ring 17 has an internal diameter somewhat less than the width of the channel iron from which the arms are-made.

At the center point of each of the two transverse portions21a and22a, an outwardly projecting hook 23, formedfrom ametal rod, is seemed. The rod forming the hook 23 associatedwith each pairof arms is inclined slightly toward the opposite pair of arms-and near its outer end isbent away from the opposite pair of arms so that the portion of the rod beyond the pointat which it is bent is disposed vertically to form the-hook 23.

Operation The base of my device is: normally-rigidly attached to a wall or other suitable surface with the arms 21 and 22 extending horizontally outward from the wall. g

The spring snap 18, secured to the end of an elastic strip 16, is engaged with the end of the corresponding one of the arms 21, the ring 17, secured to the other end of the same elastic strip, is looped over the end of the other arm 21,- and the middle portion of the strip is engaged with the hook 23 associated with the arms 21 as shown in Figs. 9, 10,11, 12 and 6. The elastic strip is somewhat stretched and obviously is securely held in position. Another elastic strip is similarly placed in position on the arms 22 and the associated hook 23. The-channel-construw tion of'the arms 21 and-22 permits the strips 16 to be received between the flanges of the channels to minimize friction 'and'allow easy passage of covers over the arms and the strips held by the arms. The arms 21 and 22 are plated or otherwise provided with a smooth surface to minimize friction.

-A steering wheel-cover, not yet containing elastic-strips, is'folded on a line through one of the pairs of associated openings 15. With the strips in place as previously described, the respective portions of the tubular pocket communicating with one opening 16 are respectively slid onto the respective ones of the pair of arms 21 with the otheropening 15 disposed therebelow and the respective-remaining tubular portions of the pocket are similarly slid onto the arms 22 as shown in Fig; '7. The entire wheel cover is slid alongthe strip together. tic strip are similarly connected together.

arms 21 and 22 toward the base 20 to such a position that the ends of the arms 21 and 22 have emerged from the openings 15 opposite from the openings 15 referred to previously, as shown in Fig. 5. Then the ring 17 and the spring snap l8 engaged with the arms 21 are disengaged therefrom and the spring snap is engaged with the ring 18 to connect the two ends of the elastic The ends of the remaining elas- The complete steering wheel cover, with the elastic strips disposed Within the tubular pockets thereof, is then drawn outward from engagement with the arms 21 and 22 and is ready for use.

Steering wheel covers of the type described are extensively used by garages, and the covers are laundered at frequent intervals. The elastic strips are removed preceding each laundering and the device of the invention may be used in quickly inserting the strips in place Within the covers after laundering.

Itisapparent that Ihave invented a new and useful device for quickly and easily inserting flexible or elastic strips in tubular pockets with a minimum amount of handling of the strips and the articles carrying the tubular pockets. It is also apparent that I have invented .a device of the class described wherein the elastic strips are secured in position, after which the tubular pocketsmay he slipped over the strips, and wherein the strips cannot become twisted during insertion thereof.

My invention, in the form described, is particularly adapted for use in inserting elastic strips in the steering wheel cover described in my copending application Serial Number 572,285, filed October 31, 1931, and has been describedas so used. However, my invention is not limited in scope to this particular use but, obviously is well adapted for insertion of flexible or elastic strips in tubular pockets of tire covers, articles of clothing, bags, and many other articles and may be arranged for simultaneously inserting any desired number of strips.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, .arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of the .present invention.

What is claimed is:-

1. A device for inserting a flexible strip ina tubularpocket comprising a pair of spaced parallel arms, a transverse member connecting said arms at one end thereof, the free end of each arm being adapted to hold one end of a strip, and means adjacent said transverse member and rigidly mounted with respect thereto for engaging the middle portion of the strip.

2.'A device for inserting flexible strips in tubular pockets, comprising a pair of spaced parallel arms, a transverse member connecting said arms at one'end thereof, and a hook mounted on said member and extending between said arms toward the free ends thereof, the free end of each arm being adapted to hold one end of said strip-and said hook being adapted to engage the middle portion of said strip.

3. A device for inserting flexible strips in tubular pockets comprising a base, two pairs of arms secured to and extending outwardly of said base, the end of each arm being adapted to hold the end of a strip, and means attached to said base between the arms of each pair for engaging the middle portion of a strip.

- 4. A device for inserting elastic strips in-tubular pockets comprising a base, two pairs of arms secured to and extending outwardly from said base, the outer end of each arm being adapted to hold one end of a strip, and a hook secured to said base between each pair of arms adapted to engage the middle portion of the strip and to hold the strip in stretched condition when the ends of said strip are held by the ends of the respective arms of a pair.

5. A holder for an elastic strip carrying a ring at one end thereof and a spring snap fastener, adapted for connective engagement with said ring, at the other end thereof, comprising a pair of spaced parallel arms, and a transverse member connecting said arms at one end thereof, the free end of one of said arms being diminished to form a wedge upon which said ring may be wedged, the free end of the other of said arms being provided with a transverse outwardly facing edge upon which said spring snap fastener may be hooked, and a hook for engaging the medial portion of said strip attached to said transverse member whereby the ends of said strip may be attached to the free ends of the respective ones of said arms and the medial portion of said strip may be engaged by said hook to support said strip and place the same under tension.

GEORGE H. LEEF. 

